BIG RAPIDS – Derek Ameel was named Pro Tennis
Management director and manager of the Ferris State University Racquet
and Fitness Center. Ameel, a 1994 graduate of Ferris, began his new
position this winter.

“I was very proud and honored to have the opportunity to be a student
and graduate of the Professional Tennis Management program. I’m even
more excited to now be back leading the program,” Ameel said. “I can’t
think of another position that has more fulfillment than being part of
the mentoring of these students and future tennis professionals.”

Previously, Ameel was the director of adult and junior tennis at James
Creek Tennis Center in Cumming, Ga., and the director of tennis for the
city of Bainbridge, Ga.

Within his first nine years of graduating, Ameel owned Tennis N’
Training, Inc., a training and consulting facility in Atlanta, Ga. He
provided training and consulting for many top academies, provided player
development to the United States Tennis Association and developed
individual training programs for high-performance junior athletes.

Ameel is a member of the USTA, a USTA-certified referee and umpire, a
Professional Tennis Registry-certified professional and a P1-certified
professional for the United States Professional Tennis Association.